The Tale of the Blood Diamond (22 page)

Xzion Khrome…

He’d remember that name; he’d remember it as if it were his own social security number. After Agent Kittle finished his presentation, Lorenzo extinguished the remainder of his cigarette, sat back and smirked.

“He’s an informant now.” He shook his head in disgust.

“Yes, I don’t know exactly what’s going on. I have been shut out of all communication but I do know what you needed most: his name and his current address.”

Lorenzo grimaced, as if smelling something foul. He cracked his knuckles when a newfound rage bubbled up inside of him. On one hand, this was the answer to his prayers. He’d been scrounging around looking for this son of a bitch, for months and how ironic the fucker was right under his nose, living in the same damn state. On the other hand, he now itched to corner the bastard and do him in. He had to be careful, however, and not allow his emotions to overwhelm him. Scratching leisurely under his left nostril with his index finger, he suddenly brandished a grin and stood to his feet.

“Well, it looks like our work here is done.”

Agent Kittle happily stood as well, appearing eager to leave. He grabbed the suitcase filled with cash, closed and locked it, then took quick steps to the front door of the hotel room. Lorenzo slowly glided behind him, a grin on his face that he couldn’t erase. In moments, the man fell to his knees in front of him. The naïve, greedy pest slumped over in a fleshy pile.

Lorenzo clicked his tongue against his inner cheek and placed the gun with the silencer back into his pocket.

“I’m sorry I had to do that, Agent Kittle. But, you are the type of mothafucka that scares easily. I had no real intention of killing anyone tonight. Why would I have gotten all of this money if I planned to ice you, huh? But, I have to trust my gut. You’re a scary mothafucka. I could see that about you. I can’t have any loose ends because after I off this mothafucka, I don’t want anyone being able to do a re-trace of steps, and the trail lead right back to my ass! No, sir!” He stooped over the dead man and peeled his fingers away from the suitcase, retrieving his money. Lorenzo shook his head. It was a shame, really. If only the mothafucka had had a backbone.

If only he hadn’t been sweating and making a fool of himself. Thus far, Lorenzo had done well with eliminating any potential rats in the race. He’d even taken care of Centipede right before his disappearing act, making sure the man had a high that took his ass right out of here. After the evening he saw him and Centipede dropped the dime, he felt sorry for the mothafucka. He liked the old pimp, but Centipede had a big ass mouth and had pulled his card when he saw the lust in his eyes for the information he held. So Lorenzo bought some primo cocaine and mixed it with just the right amount of arsenic and rat poisoning, and now, Centipede finally rested in peace — restored to his former glory. He’d even paid for the funeral and gave his regards and regrets that he couldn’t attend. He made sure his girls spread the word about his heavy heart, and placed red roses on the man’s plot.

This was the part of Lorenzo’s job he didn’t like. It was a necessary evil, but it wasn’t something he glorified or looked forward to. He was in the business of feeling good, of pretend love based on the profitability of sex. But, since he’d killed at a young age, he realized it must be in his blood as well, though he hated it all the same. He didn’t relish the shit — but being sloppy would cost him his life, and he couldn’t afford to leave scraps behind for any dogs to come and sniff, eating up his chances at a clean get away.

He looked down at Agent Kittle’s body and shook his head.

“At least you a lightweight son of a bitch. I can carry you outta here easily.”  He went to the bedroom and dressed in his painter’s uniform. The light gray jumpsuit with splotchy white dye covering it fit the bill as he shoved the dead man’s body into an equally paint splotched bag made of thick tarp. Taking a deep sigh, he slung the waif over his shoulder, pulled down his cap and exited the hotel; on his way to a parked beat up van he’d rented just for the occasion. Into the back with a heavy thud went Kittle’s body as it hit some plumbing piping but he wouldn’t rest there for long. Soon, the corpse would join decaying debris and lifeless vermin deep in the Atlantic ocean, forevermore…

“You’re wasting time.” Jayme shoved her shoulder into the man, trying to move the brute the hell out of her way. That brute was her husband and here he stood, using his body as a shield to block her from entering the living room. She could hear their voices, strange dialects and intonations. A slew of men were in her home, and she wanted to meet these guys, find out what was going on.

“I’m not wasting time and you can stop trying to bully your way past me, woman. You aren’t going anywhere until I explain this to you.”

Jayme looked up into Xzion’s eyes. She cursed him, hated how he was taking her control, balling it up and tossing it aside like yesterday’s news.

“Why do you keep fighting me on everything?! I have to beg you for information, force my way into the know. You promised me you’d be more forthcoming, and yet here we are once again, arguing about this assignment of yours.”

“Jayme, you don’t understand. You think —”

“No, I understand fully, Xzion!” She didn’t miss the silence in the room now as her voice escalated, no doubt eliciting the attention from the ‘guests’. “The world is turned on its damn axis, and you still are trying to keep me away from it. Well, I’ve got news for you! I live here, okay? This is
my
planet, and I may be just some cop to you, not a space warrior alien such as yourself,” she rolled her eyes, “but I have a vested interest in this place. I swore to protect and serve, and that’s what I’m going to do! Now move!”

“You don’t understand what you are about to see, Jayme! This isn’t about control, damn it! I need to sit you down and show you photos and explain this to you, first.”

“Photos? Like I need a picture book?” She laughed in disgust. “No, you said they are odd looking, fine. Stop babying me and give me some damn credit, here!”

Suddenly, Xzion’s face cracked with a smile, showing all of his perfectly white teeth. He stepped aside and ushered her toward the closed archway door.

“Jayme, since you believe you know what you’re doing, then by all means…be my guest.”

Taken aback by his sudden compliance, she walked past him suspiciously then slowly opened the steely door. She gulped, then swallowed a bit harder as she took notice of an assortment of disturbing figures, all leisurely lounging about her living room. One grinned at her, its mouth the size and shape of a football.

Oh…oh, shit…

Her eyes fluttered. Before she knew it, her knees were giving way and black overtook her senses until she could hear and see no more…

*
***

Xzion rubbed his chin and couldn’t wipe the stupid smirk off his face as he looked at Jayme slumped in a chair, an ice pack sloppily crowning the side of her bruised head. He observed her eyes flutter as she came to, her consciousness finally taking hold.

“Hmmm, things still a bit blurry? Your vision will be fine soon. You took quite a nasty fall.” He stepped closer to her and pressed the icepack against her bleeding temple.

“Oh Jesus…” she mumbled as her tired dark eyes surveyed the room. “It’s true…I didn’t imagine this. There really is a fucking E.T. in my house…” she slurred…

****

Suddenly, a deep rumbling voice cut through the commotion. “We apologize for our intrusion and your subsequent shock,” said a creature with skin that appeared to be changing metallic colors, rather politely at that. He stood there in a black suit that seemed made of a material similar to leather, with shiny white and silver buttons. His neck was long, his head bulbous and his limbs stretched. His mouth showed nothing but blackness when opened. She placed her hand across her heart as if that would somehow quiet the fear-driven pitter patter. She’d never seen anything like this in her entire life and working on the streets of D.C., she’d seen a hell of a lot.

On one side of the room appeared humans, but she knew better. She surmised by their clothing and all too familiar stances, they were Zarkstormians. They were dressed in black military outfits, and all possessed that same stern-faced expression she had seen on far too many occasions in her own home. In the middle of the room was a small cluster of these creatures, like the one that apologized to her. Their eyes were long and narrow, with white specks dancing inside of them. To the far right was a woman dressed like the Zarkstormian military. Her skin was buttery, a deep tan like her husband’s, and her hair just as black at Xzion’s, yet it flowed to her shoulders. She was attractive, and her body language, such as her head cocked slightly to the side and tough girl pose, screamed she was itching for a fight. Her slender yet feminine body moved in a black material that resembled shiny, liquid leather yet her feet were encased in heavy, black boots.

I don’t like how she’s looking at me…

The woman’s lips twisted in a grimace as she peered at Jayme, as if they had some unknown history with each other. Jayme shook it off and
continued to peruse the room.

Next to her stood two beings with stark white flesh that seemed to glitter. Their hair was just as light, and piercing, large jade eyes took up half their faces. Their bodies were covered in loose, silky robes, and the corners of their lips appeared to be turned up in a smile. Xzion broke her thoughts as he spoke up.

“Jayme, I will make this fast. Over here,” he pointed to the metallic skinned group, “are Zarkstormian allies. These people are called Maxoms.”

“They…they aren’t aliens?” Her lips quivered as her head throbbed in pain.

“Well, aliens is kind of an offensive term, but yes, that is what they are — just like me. I don’t mind the word, but some of us do. Now, over here are my people. The Zarkstormians. … This is just a small segment of the military population that has joined us for a meeting. The military will stay with us, but the others will return to their respective planets. I needed to brief them on what was going on so that we can have their continued support, and so they can get a sense of Earth terrain in order to help better protect you. If need be, they can be called in for back-up. Some have not travelled to Earth personally before, though their ancestors have. Now…” He paced the room. “The rest of them are not far from our home and shall remain stationed there, waiting for orders from myself and Aton. Matter of fact, they are right up the street. This is my sister.” He pointed to the woman who stood with the scowl still imprinted across her face. “Her name is Cxeza. You would consider her your sister-in-law.”

Ahhh, his sister…

“Pleased to meet you,” the woman said, her voice cool and icy, the glower still on her face. Jayme figured maybe that was simply how she looked. She’d forgotten that Zarkstormians typically didn’t smile. Xzion didn’t smile much either, but he’d gotten much better, so much so, it was coming naturally to him now. He had become the Zarkstormian exception, and he’d told her it was all her doing…

“These two beings are Id and Lo.” He pointed to the dark aliens at the other side of the room. “They too are fierce Zarkstormian allies. They come from a planet called Poa. They are small in number, but very strong and wise. They have a long history with the Yuledrakes.” Id and Po both nodded and offered pleasant smiles in Jayme’s direction. One opened its mouth, and one of the most melodic sounds Jayme had ever heard seeped out like sweetly scented mist. It was as if she or he were singing the words.

“Your son will be a great leader.”

The words sent shivers up and down Jayme’s body. The alien was prophesizing, right there in her presence, and somehow, she knew the words were true. This was no conning Gypsy with a dusty crystal ball waiting for a crumpled twenty-dollar bill after a reading. Jayme never told Xzion, but while she was pregnant, she’d had so many dreams of their child growing up and leading a nation. She thought it was silly in retrospect to put such stock in a dream, but this creature stood there and reiterated what she’d always felt in the depths of her heart. She couldn’t help staring at the two aliens. They’d be going back home as soon as the meeting was over, but this moment would stay in her mind forever. She’d never seen anyone, or anything, so beautifully haunting before.

What sex are they? I can’t tell…Do they even have a gender?

“We are both,” the other one offered, reading her mind. “You wondered if we are male or female; we are one and the same.”

Jayme felt the sweat roll down her face like slowly unraveled window blinds. She’d lost consciousness from a visual sensory overload and hit her damn head on the side of the door going down… and now here she sat: bloodied, confused and humiliated. She’d made a fool of herself, and worse yet, she was still scared shitless, looking at these strange beings, and knowing there were more Zarkstormians to come.

“Sweetheart,” Xzion said as he gently touched her knee. “Aton is on his way as well. We are at war.” He looked towards the ground as if he needed a moment. “The simple fact of it is…you, your family, your friends…everybody, baby, is in serious danger.”

Her heart fell so low; her feet couldn’t keep the damn thing up. She’d already known the truth, she’d known for weeks, but hearing it from him solidified it.